Fix a Leak Week – March 18-24, 2019

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Fix a Leak Week officially kicks off on March 18, 2019 in Sonoma County and across the nation. The annual water awareness campaign is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Program. Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from homes each year. In California, it is estimated that 14 percent of homes have or have recently had a leak, representing up to 18 percent of household water use.

Check your garden hose for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks while you run your hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection to the spigot using pipe tape and a wrench.

Leaky faucets can be fixed by checking faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replacing them if necessary. A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That’s the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!